Galvanic battery.



E. C. SMTH @L E. L. MARSHALL.

GALVANIC BATTERY.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 190e.

Lm. I Patented Feb. 13.1912.

lll .Nl

JERSEY.

lil ,0541.

Application filed To all whom i may concern:

Be itknown that We, EDWARD C. SMITH and EDWARD L. MARSHALL, citizens ofthe United States, and residents ot Fremont, in the county of Sandush Yand State ot Ohio, have invented a certain nev.i` and usefullmprovementin Galvanic Batteries, ot which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a neuT and simplified form o caustic solutionbattery especially adapted for track circuits such as are commonly usedin connection with automatic block signals, crossing bells and otherprotective devices and other analogous uses.

The invention consists of a jana metal plate resting on and covering thebottom thereof and having an upwardly extended stem, a layer of oxid ofcopper spread upon said plate, a zinc element. suspended in the upperpart of said jar, and a solution of caustic soda, potash or the like, insaid jar covering the parts specified excepting the upper end of saidstem.

In the drawing, Figure l is a sectional elevation of a cell embodyingthe invention; and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view thereof.

ln carrying out this invention We employ a jar A which preferably shouldbe made ot glass. A metal plate E is itted in said jar and rests uponthe bottoni thereof, and has a centrally placed upwardly extended stem ewhich extends out of the top et thejar, and through the cover B thereof,if a cover be used, said stem being provided with a suitable binding.post C. A layer D of blackcopper oxid either loose or in the form ofacompressed cake is placed upon this metal plate; and the zinc element Gis suspended by Wires g or otherwise either from the sides ot the jar orfrom the cover thereotE in the upper part of said jar and at aconsiderable distance above the layer of the copper oxid. As the cell isused there is formed a soluble sodium or potassium zincate which becauseor its high epeciic gravity sinks to the bottoni of the jar. Thissubstance, as itincreases in quantity andthe` zinc element becomesimmersed therein, iiilminlshes the eciency of the cell. By pleeing theZinc elementl a considerable distance i above the layer ot oxid, thedeleterious ef- Specification ci' Letters atent.

August i. i969.

Serial No. 511,666.

fects of the zincate are obviated and in addition, a cell of highinternal resistance is obtainel. The electrolyte J is preferably asolution of caustic soda, and its surface is above the upper edge of thezinc element. The zinc element has an upwardly' extended stem g for theconnection of a ircuit Wire. A layer of paratlin oil is poured on thesurface of the solution to prevent its deterioration from the actionoth-e atmosphere.

By the described arrangementsot parts ive obtain a cell ot high internalresistance, so that, 'when the battery current is shun'ted, the drainupon the battery is low. lt is evident also that theparts of cell .maybe taken out of the jar Without to take hold of any of the parts iviichhave been in the caustic solution.

The reduction of the copper oxid begins at the surface of the vmetaldisk E and progresses upwardly throughout the mass, the line between theblack oxid and the red copper being marked and distinctly through thesides of the glass The elements and the electrolyte are so proportionedthat the copper oxid element is exhausted before the :cinc element isconsumed or the electrolyte is spent. Therefore the one in charge ofthebatteries, by noting when the vertical surface of the copper oxid(which is visible through the gra has nearly all turned red, may ltnovvthat the battery is about to become exhausted, and may, tlieretore,.bythen renewing 'the same, prevent the interruption of the service by thefailure ost' the cell to act. This cell is obviously of most simpleconstruction, and few-parts, is easily adjusted and requires no specialAlinov .lledg'e to keep it in proper condition for action. liioreover,to charge or recharge it does not compel the operator to handle any ofthe parts whichv have been covered with `the caustic soda solotion. a f

Having described our invention, We claimtf A primary battery comL s,transparent jar, a. metallic plate sap-ported Within jar near thebottoni thereof?, a cor.- ductor attached to said plate, laver oinetallic oxid upon said plate, said oxid being visible throughthe sideWalls of the ier,

visible 'whereby the c0101` change of the oXd s vsour signatures in thepresence of two Witble s the cell is used, an electrolyte contannesses.

ing y'caustic alkali, a zinc element suspended EDWARD C. SMITH.

in the electrolyte and spaced a considerable EDWARD L. MARSHALL. 5distance above the layer of oXd for the pur- `Wtnesses:

pose described. GEO. W. HAYNES,

l In testimony whereof, We hereunto afi-1X F. J. GILBEL.

